wrestling / TV Reports
Cook’s WWE Raw Review 1.12.26
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...Hey kids! Steve Cook here with you for the latest edition of WWE Raw on Netflix! It’s a special 2 PM start time for those of us on the U.S. American east coast, as Raw is airing live from Germany! The featured attraction today is the first-ever match between the Phenomenal AJ Styles & the Ring General Gunther. Honestly, I don’t think I need anything else to hype this one.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the 411Mania Wrestling Newsletter! Click here to do so, and then tomorrow (Tuesday) you’ll get some exclusive insight from your humble Chef on everything you need to know about the latest and greatest pro wrestling happenings! I guarantee it’ll be a good time, so make sure you check it out.
Cook’s WWE Raw Review 1.12.26
Then. Now. Forever. Together!
Last Monday, Raw got Strange with the Stranger Things. New champions were crowned in two matches, another champion was attacked, a big match was made for this week, and CM Punk beat Bron Breakker after the rest of the Vision was chased off.
We’re in Dusseldorf, Germany! CM Punk WALKS DOWN STAIRS. Logan Paul poses before he & the Vision WALK. Je’Von Evans is SCROLLING! The Americanos are WALKING! AJ Styles is WALKING! Gunther is WALKING! Pyro & ballyhoo inside the arena!
IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley make their way to the ring as the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Michael Cole & Wade Barrett are our hosts tonight. Rhea welcomes us to Monday Night Rhiyo. They’ve been battling the Kabuki Warriors for weeks and have finally put them in their place. The Germans chant “You Deserve It” in English. IYO talks about how Asuka & Kairi have no respect, but she & Rhea beat respect into them because nobody is ready for Rhiyo. Rhea begins the process of issuing a challenge, and that’s when Liv Morgan’s music hits. Liv & Roxanne Perez make their way down to the ring. Liv talks about how she & Roxanne want to celebrate them. She leads the fans in another round of applause. It’s so cool, but her only problem is that those belts still belong to her. She never lost the title, so she offers the opportunity for them to give the titles back, or she’ll take them.
Bayley & Lyra Valkyria make their way to the ring. Bayley says hi to Liv and has the fans sing for her. Bayley points out that Roxanne did lose the Tag Team Championship, and she beat Roxanne recently, so she & Lyra deserve a match in their new cool gear. IYO speaks Japanese & the women start yelling at each other. The Kabuki Warriors drag Rhiyo out of the ring and toss them into the barricade so they can start a fight with the other teams. Rhea & IYO fight back and end up the last team in the ring while the other teams cower on the floor.
JACKIE REDMOND is with AJ Styles. She wants to know why it’s so personal between him & Gunther. AJ learned early in his career that it’s all about respect. He & John Cena bonded over the word respect, and Gunther kept disrespecting John. He’s gonna make Gunther tap out like a little bitch.
Finn Balor plays video games while Liv & Roxanne bask in their glory. Liv asks Finn what he’s waiting for. It’s time to stop playing games! Roxanne says that Liv has a point. After they leave, Finn tells them to just watch.
Je’Von Evans vs. Bravo Americano (w/Rayo & El Grande Americano): Bravo slaps Je’Von down and kicks away before choking him on the ropes. Bravo misses on the ropes and crotches himself before getting slapped by Evans. Rana takes Bravo down, then Evans springboards into another rana and a kick that sends Bravo outside. Rayo distracts so El Grande can kick Evans down. Bravo pounds away afterward. Bravo with a chinlock, then a headbutt before going back to the chinlock. Evans break out, hits some punches. Evans avoids the trip and still kicks Bravo down. Evans dives into Bravo on the outside. Evans hits a running knee back in the ring for two. Bravo with a knee, Evans with a kick. Bravo gets Evans in a torture rack, then spins around before dropping Evans on the mat. Bravo goes up top, Evans meets him there and hits the Spanish Fly! The OG Cutter finishes the match.
Winner: Je’Von Evans (6:14 via pinfall)
Match Rating: **1/2
Makes perfect sense to have these Americano fellas make Evans look good early in his Raw tenure. I feel like El Grande would have gotten cheered through this match due to online speculation over his identity. I, for one, haven’t identified any of these guys.
Rayo gets punched on the apron, then El Grande drags Evans out of the ring and throws him over the announce table. The Americanos surround Evans while he stands on the barricade, Evans bounces his way towards the ring and to the entranceway to escape the 3 on 1.
Adam Pearce sends a referee off with a message, then meets with Paul Heyman. Pearce tells him that Bron Breakker is banned from the building tonight.
CM Punk is WALKING. He’ll join us after the commercial!
LIKE MUSSOLINI! CM Punk marches down to the ring and encourages the fans to sing along. I haven’t seen anybody get a response like this in Germany since Bret Hart! Punk will never get tired of saying his catchphrases and being our world champion. His plan is to be champion forever! We’re on the long road to WrestleMania, anything can happen, we can ask Cody Rhodes about that. Just because Punk plans on being champion doesn’t mean it’ll happen, but the people make him feel like it’s possible. The Royal Rumble & Elimination Chamber provide two more opportunities for people to call their shot. The Vision is in his rearview mirror now, and he can’t wait to find out who the next challenger will be.
Finn Balor’s music hits! Balor makes his way to the ring. Balor says he’s not waiting for the Rumble or Chamber, and he’s not asking for a handout. When Punk won the title he named Balor as someone he wanted to face. So here he is! Punk asks where Finn’s ambition is. He’s busy playing video games & helping Dom & JD, some weeks he’s just shining Liv’s shoes. Finn thinks he might be able to pick the bones. Punk just did the numbers game stuff with the Vision. Punk says Finn is impressive and talented, he agreed to be a fighting champion, and he’s going to wrestle Finn here tonight! Balor says that timing is everything. He’s not jumping the line, anyone that’s watched his career knows that the line starts here. Punk won’t have to worry about Dom or JD, but he won’t be alone. Next week, Raw is in Belfast, and that’s where they’ll meet. There will be a new Irish world champion! Punk apologizes to the fans here for not getting to see him work, and he apologizes to the fans in Ireland who will have to watch him beat their countryman next week. Punk declares he’ll win next week and talks some junk in Balor’s face before running around the ring.
We see a video package about the issues between AJ Styles & Gunther.
Women’s Tag Team Championship #1 Contender Triple Threat Match: Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane: Bayley, Asuka & Liv start and the fans sing for Bayley. Roxanne holds Liv’s ears for her. All three go for quick near-falls early, no dice. Bayley knocks both opponents down, shoulderblocks Liv in the corner, but Liv fights back before Asuka hits a double clothesline for two. Lyra, Kairi & Roxanne tag in. Lyra gets doubleteamed for a second before she stops herself on the ropes, she & Roxanne exchange covers. Kairi sends Lyra into a superkick, but Kairi can’t capitalize and Lyra tries a Nightwing. That doesn’t work, and Kairi takes Lyra & Roxanne down with headscissors. Lyra Northern Lights suplexes Kairi for two. The fans woo, Lyra kicks Roxanne to the floor. Liv kicks Lyra to the floor, and its a scrum on the outside. Kairi takes the other two teams out with a dive to the floor, she & Asuka celebrate as we go to commercial!
Bayley drops Asuka on the ropes as we return. Asuka & Bayley exchange a lungblower & a high knee. Kairi & Lyra tag in, Lyra’s the one that goes on offense. Enziguri gets two on Roxanne. Lyra drives Kairi into the corner and puts her up top. Asuka gets suplexed by Bayley, then Bayley joins Kairi for a super plex attempt. Liv & Roxanne get involved for the Tower of Doom. Asuka Germans Liv, then Roxanne, Lyra blocks, but then Bayley grabs Lyra and Asuka suplexes them both! Kairi goes up top, and they set Lyra up for the assisted Insane Elbow. Liv breaks the count, even though the ref wasn’t counting anyway. Liv hits the backstabber, Kairi hits a backfist, Kairi jumps into Lyra’s arms. Lyra tags Bayley and they hit the backbreaker/elbow drop combo for two. Roxanne hits Pop Rox on Bayley for two, Kairi broke it up. Kairi tosses Roxanne out of the ring, but Liv tagged in so she can hit Oblivion on Kairi for the three count!
Winners: Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez (9:59 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***
It was a bit tough to keep track of what was going on, but some good solid action. Fortunately enough time has passed since the last time Liv & Rhea feuded forever, so it feels a little fresh.
Liv & Roxanne will face Rhiyo on January 24th as part of Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal.
Becky Lynch talks about how it took no controversy to beat Maxxine Dupri, and how she’ll turn lemons into lemonade. Next week, she’ll prove how she’s the greatest of all time (it’s not just her saying it), and end Maxxine’s stay in the big time.
After a WWE Unreal ad, we see AJ Styles getting ready for his match later tonight.
Jackie is backstage with Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa & Otis. Maxxine is disappointed, but she proved she belonged when she became champion. She tells Akira & Otis that they’re capable of doing the same. Becky had to cheat to beat her, so she’s going to break her ankle next week.
Michael Cole is in the entranceway to interview Raquel Rodriguez. Cole says that he’s known Raquel a long time, and has always said she’ll be a future world champion. He was surprised that she attacked Stephanie Vaquer last week. Raquel says that she used to be a young girl that smiled when she was told to, and to wait for her turn. Raquel says that people can feel sorry for Stephanie, but she’s still going to take care of Stephanie and become champion.
Stephanie Vaquer emerges with a bunch of officials, and they herd Raquel to the back. Stephanie tells us that the injury won’t stop her before Raquel attacks again. She whips the Championship off of Stephanie’s ankle a couple of times before finally leaving.
We see Drew McIntyre defending his newly won Undisputed WWE Championship in Glasgow, Scotland!
Jey Uso talks on the phone before Akira Tozawa & Otis come in and asks for a shot. Jey doesn’t take it seriously at all, but Otis insists he should take them seriously. Jey says ok, and reminds them they’ll be facing the best tag team in the world.
Austin Theory & Bronson Reed (w/Paul Heyman & Logan Paul) vs. Penta & Dragon Lee: Penta & Theory start things. Penta walks on top of Theory then hits some chops. Reverse sling blade by Penta, but then he runs into a big boot from Theory. Reed tags in, misses the splash in the corner and Dragon tags in. They double team with a bunch of kicks to Reed in the corner. Cover gets nothing. Lee with a boot, ranas Reed so he stumbles towards the corner. Lee goes up top, Reed catches him and slams him down. Military press by Reed, he sends Lee into the turnbuckle. Theory punches Reed down on the floor as we go to commercial.
The fans chant obscenities at Logan as we return. Theory drops Lee down for two. Theory hits a snap suplex. Bronson tags in, Lee slips out of his suplex, knocks Theory off the apron, but gets clotheslined by Reed before getting a chance to tag out. Reed goes for a powerbomb but gets DDTed instead. Tags to Penta & Theory! Penta hits the backstabber on Theory for two. Penta kicks Theory and tags Lee back in so they can doubleteam. Reed, Theory & Logan are sent to the floor so they can catch Dragon on a dive. A wild Bron Breakker appears and spears Lee!
Winners: Penta & Dragon Lee (6:24 shown via disqualification)
Match Rating: **1/2
We all knew there would be some Bron Breakker impact on this match after the previous segment with Pearce & Heyman. The match was ok, but it’s the post-match that we’ll need to remember for the future.
Penta gets speared as well. Bron prepares some furniture before Pearce comes down and chews him out. Meanwhile, Bronson hits the TSUNAMI on Penta. Pearce goes to give him the business, then Bron spears Lee in the ring! Pearce grabs Bron and tells him he’s sick of his stuff. Bron drives Pearce into the corner, the Vision pull him off the GM. Heyman apologizes for everyone involved while Pearce continues yelling at Bron. This continues up the entranceway. Logan tells Pearce that Bron is going to kill him, so he should probably stop.
We see a replay of Bron running up the long entranceway and spearing Dragon out of his boots. That was cool!
Penta & Dragon are clutching their chests in medical. Je’Von Evans asks if they’re ok, and says that the Vision will pay for this.
Adam Pearce suspends Bron indefinitely. Bronson walks him off, and Heyman tells Pearce he made a big mistake. Pearce thinks he meant Bron, but Paul informs him that Pearce put his hands on Bron first, and that was the mistake. Man’s not wrong about that.
Various celebrities & athletes pitch Triple H ideas for their appearances at WrestleMania. After seeing all that he doesn’t want any more e-mails or texts suggesting things.
Next week: Becky vs. Maxxine! Punk vs. Balor!
The Oba Femi video package plays. We’ll find out what’s happening with the NXT Championship he vacated tomorrow night on that program.
Before the match starts, Jackie interviews Gunther backstage. Gunther talks about how disrespectful AJ was last week to the best wrestler in the company and the man that made Cena tap like a little bitch. AJ should worry about what’s going to happen to him after that bell rings.
AJ Styles vs. Gunther: Cole drops a wXw reference and Alicia Taylor makes the super special introduction that’s typically reserved for championship matches. AJ & Gunther exchange holds, in the corner AJ avoids the chop and kicks Gunther down. AJ seems to be targeting the leg for an eventual Calf Crusher. Gunther with a go-behind, AJ gets out and kicks at Gunther’s leg again. Gunther goes outside before coming back in and taking AJ down with a headlock takeover. AJ gets out, keeps going to the leg when Gunther isn’t applying headlocks. Gunther avoids the dropkick, but AJ avoids the chop and kicks Gunther again. AJ dives onto Gunther on the outside. Gunther responds by dropping AJ on the apron. AJ kicks Gunther, knees him down to the floor. Gunther limps around in the ring, he finally hits a clothesline on AJ. AJ blocks the chop and hits some of his own. Gunther runs into a boot in the corner, AJ goes up top and Gunther chops him to the floor! We go to commercial!
We see Gunther boot AJ to the floor and hit a back body drop as we return. Gunther chops AJ down. AJ avoids a chop and fires away with strikes before Gunther clotheslines AJ down. The audience loves their Ring General. Gunther does the You Can’t See Me taunt, then Styles fights back. A couple of dragon screws by Styles. Forearm in the corner, Gunther slips out of a move but Styles hits the Pele! Styles gets Gunther in the Calf Crusher! Gunther reaches the ropes. Styles sets up for the Phenomenal Forearm but gets chopped down by Gunther. Gunther puts the sleeper on in the ropes, but AJ drops his leg on the ropes. Springboard legdrop on Gunther’s leg gets a two count! AJ goes for the Forearm again, but Gunther steps aside and locks in a sleeper, AJ rolls through that for two. AJ misses the Pele and Gunther hits a clothesline. Powerbomb gets two for Gunther. The fans say it’s awesome. Gunther wants AJ to slap him now. Gunther slaps AJ and asks where his fire is at now. AJ gets chopped, and now they exchange strikes. Styles goes back to the Calf Crusher. Gunther breaks the hold by slamming AJ’s head into the mat. Gunther hits a missile dropkick on AJ, but AJ keeps going to that hold. Gunther’s close to the ropes, so AJ rolls him to the center of the ring. AJ breaks the hold himself, he thinks Gunther tapped! I didn’t see it, neither did the referee or the announcers. While the referee talks to Alicia, Gunther low blows AJ! A power bomb gets the three count.
Winner: Gunther (14:50 shown via pinfall)
Match Rating: ***3/4
The one tricky thing about putting this match on is that Gunther was going to be cheered by his people no matter what he did to John Cena. It’s not like Styles was getting a ton of heel heat or anything, it’s just that Gunther’s their guy. We’ll see this next week with Finn Balor in Belfast. It was still a brilliant bad guy effort from Gunther to hide his submission from the referee.
The reverse angle shows what Styles was talking about! Indeed, Gunther did tap on the side of Styles’ backside. Nobody important saw it, so it doesn’t count. Brilliant strategy from the Ring General! Gunther is very happy as he exits the arena. Styles looks up to the sky, and Gunther celebrates on the stage as our live event comes to an end. So long for now!
If you’d like to chime in with your own thoughts on tonight’s show, feel free to join your fellow 411 Maniacs down in the comment section! As the legendary Larry Csonka always said: Have fun and don’t be a dick. When I’m not here you can catch me on the social media from time to time.
